NEWS SPECIAL REPORT


Celebrity celebrates the best of British


Celebrity Cruises resumed UK operations with a six-day British Isles cruise on ‘revolutionised’ Silhouette. Samantha Mayling joined the Southampton departure


C


elebrity Cruises is looking to expand its range of excursions for its British Isles sailings


onCelebrity Silhouette. The first cruise departed on July 3


for a six-day itinerary, with stops in Dover, Belfast and Liverpool. Jo Rzymowska, the line’s vice-


president and managing director for the EMEA region, told Travel Weekly: “There is no better way to see the land than from the sea, and to visit it with our shore excursions and our guides is great. There are lots of options and we are building more all the time.” She said colleagues returned


from excursions with ideas and feedback, adding: “We are constantly looking to see how we can offer


variety throughout the season.” Dover was a late addition to


the itinerary after the Scottish government decided against allowing ships to dock north of the border. Passengers on excursions travel


in a ‘bubble’ but Rzymowska expects that to change with the planned easing of restrictions on July 19. About 150 places on the cruise


were allocated to trade partners so they could see the results of Silhouette’s multimillion-pound “revolution”, or refurbishment. Rzymowska said fam trips were


“really important”, adding: “Seeing is believing – there’s no better way to be able to sell with confidence.” Fifty agents visited Silhouette on the eve of the ship’s departure.


Claire Stirrup, Celebrity’s UK and


Ireland sales director, said the first three domestic sailings had sold out but there was availability on other summer departures. She urged agents who have been


on furlough to access a ‘return to work’ designed “to make it as easy as possible for trade partners” to sell the line’s sailings. The kit is on the Celebrity Central trade platform. Celebrity also plans to reveal


more “money can’t buy experiences” in its Celebrity Moments agent reward programme, she added.


Watch videos from on


board the Silhouette sailing: travelweekly.co.uk/media


AGENTS’ COMMENTS


Gill Williams, cruise specialist, The Travel Village “The staff are very friendly. They love


having customers back on board. The app allows you to see when places are open for food, what entertainment is on, and you can open your door with it. Check-in and security was very smooth.”


Claire Moore, managing director, Peakes Travel “The ship is beautiful after


THE ONBOARD PROTOCOLS WORKED LIKE CLOCKWORK


It may have been the first UK cruise on Silhouette for 19 months but it went like clockwork.


From arrivals desk to cabin, it took about 20 minutes – checking my PCR result, vaccine status and passport – with crew applauding as I boarded. One couple took just 11 minutes from car park to cabin. A few Wi-Fi glitches aside (something to do with


satellite connections), everything on board and on land went smoothly for the 970 guests and 925 staff – including Ramses, my attentive, friendly stateroom attendant. The revamped Celebrity app helped me plan before and during the cruise – but there is still a paper sheet distributed


each day detailing entertainment, dining and activities, from quizzes and games to theatre performances and guest speakers. We wore masks indoors and floor markings helped the socially-distanced flow of people – full capacity is 2,902 guests and 1,285 crew, so it felt safe and uncrowded. Excursions in Dover, Belfast and Liverpool were completed in an accompanied ‘bubble’. Our crew, guides and drivers were delighted to be back after


18 months and their energy and enthusiasm were infectious. Agents I met were heartened to be back cruising and were


relaying messages to clients and colleagues about the protocols and refurbishments. Everyone was buzzing.


being ‘revolutionised’ but the standout thing is the staff and crew. It was a wow moment seeing them applaud us as we boarded.”


Margaret Moulton, branch manager, Miles Morgan Travel, Wells “The session with


[athlete] Derek Redmond was very motivational. And I’m very impressed with the attention to detail for the British market – kettles in the rooms and British bacon at breakfast.”


travelweekly.co.uk


15 JULY 2021


15


PICTURE: Michel Verdure


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